Halloween Horror Nights 2022: BANG or BUST? – Event Review

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights rolled out the red carpet to celebrate opening night pn September 9, 2022. They welcomed Hollywood icons such as the OG final girl herself, Jamie Lee Curtis, filmmakers Jordan Peele and Jason Blum, Freaky star Vince Vaughn, Nope star Brandon Perea, Halloween Ends star Kyle Richards, The Walking Dead executive producer and director Greg Nicotero, and mastermind behind all the twisted madness, John Murdy, just to name a few. Celebrities and fans of all things horror and Halloween braced the chaos lurking within the confines of the park.

We were honored to grace the pages of their guest list and are here to break it all down for you!

Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood’s Lineup

• Halloween may be one of the most highly profiled movies in this years program. The franchise’s recent trilogy comes to a close with Universal Pictures’ release of Halloween Ends on October 14, 2022. Visitors are taken back to where it all began on Halloween night in 1978. Onlookers make their way through Michael’s childhood home and iconic scenes from the movie, narrowly escaping attacks from a knife-welding Myers. He stalks your every move and unleashes terror at every turn! Guests quickly realize he will stop at nothing to have his bloody revenge.

• The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare brings guests into the contorted mind of award-winning musical and filmmaking artist, The Weeknd. After Hours Nightmare opens an atmosphere for fans to step into a surreal living nightmare filled with grotesque characters and themes inspired by his groundbreaking music and short films. You’re ambushed by slashers, bandaged maniacs, gruesome toad-like creatures and other esoteric horrors from the mind of the artist. Guests will scurry to survive the night as they’re trapped within the ghastly, unexpected world of The Weeknd’s vivid imagination.

• The Horrors of Blumhouse brings a double dose of terror influenced by Blumhouse’s supernatural thriller, The Black Phone, and horror comedy, Freaky. Visitors are transported to an alternate dimension where the scares are real and the stakes are life and death. Guests are trapped in The Grabber’s fun house where, if they listen carefully, they can hear whispered hints on how to escape his twisted magic. When one torment ends, another begins as guests now find themselves in the midst of the serial killer The Butcher, who switched bodies with a high schooler after being cursed by an ancient Aztec blade. The Butcher is on the loose and determined to hunt for their next victims.

• Universal Monsters: Legends Collide expands on the thrilling legacy from Universal Pictures. The Wolf Man, Dracula and The Mummy come together for the first time ever in an epic battle. Guests travel back to the 19th century and fall in the thick of the trio searching for The Amulet of Ra. With the full moon on the rise and a race against time, guests are caught between a bloodthirsty battle between these notorious titans, and only one will survive.

• MGM’s Killer Klowns from Outer Space traps guests in a frightening funhouse of murderous, clown-like creatures. The Killer Klowns are back and keep onlookers on their toes with their antics, giggles, and jump scares. Guests find themselves surrounded by a legion of klowns as they narrowly escape the havoc in Crescent Cove.

• La Llorona: The Weeping Woman features the legend of La Llorona, once a staple of Spanish childhood fables. She has comes to life to terrorize the living as she mourns the children she murdered. Guests are submerged in a three-dimensional world of folklore where they must dodge the vengeful spirit of the weeping woman.

• Scarecrow: The Reaping finds that Mother Nature’s retribution against the homesteaders for their sins of the past will be carried out by the farmland’s scarecrows who have remained mute witnesses and are now guardians of destruction for anyone who crosses their path.

• Universal Horror Hotel lives ups to its reputation as the original owner, who was executed years ago for his dastardly deeds, continues to haunt the place today, and guests must escape his vengeful spirit or risk becoming a permanent resident.

• Terror Tram unleashes the villainous Hollywood Harry, who invites guests to his nightmarish spectacle, Hollywood Harry’s Halloween. Their path of demented characters winds past the iconic Psycho House and through Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds set. This year’s terror tram expands to include a cinematic twist of Jordan Peele’s blockbuster films. This crossover experience reimagines Us, featuring The Tethered, a revolutionary army of vengeful doppelgangers whose uprising invades the all-new Jupiter’s Claim set from the filmmaker’s latest pop nightmare, Nope.

  

  

  

  

Horror Nights Scare Zones

El Pueblo del Terror is an extension of La Llorona: The Weeping Woman. The horror continues once guests exit the haunted house and discover there is no escaping the frightening legend. They are greeted with other supernatural characters from Latin America’s most fearsome myths. Sideshow Slaughter House turns New York Street into a battle zone! Performers and workers from a seedy carnival side show embark a murderous rampage. Lastly, Clownsawz features a demonic troop of clowns who band together to terrorize guests with chainsaws as they enter the park and maneuver through the fog.

For the second year, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is open during Halloween Horror Nights. Allowing guests to enjoy some favorite attractions, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff. For the first time ever, Voldemort is released Death Eaters to roam Hogsmeade Village to seek out other willing and loyal followers to the Dark Lord’s cause.

Tempting Treats and Marvelous Merchandise for Halloween Horror Nights Guests

Guests are in for a real treat this year. Terrifying menus of horror-inspired cuisine and a selection of exclusive merchandise themed for this 2022 event are in store. Fans will find a variety of apparel, souvenirs, drink ware and collectibles featuring favorite haunted houses. Additionally, items from the artist signature series showcasing the legendary Universal Monsters. In addition, for the first time ever at Universal Studios Hollywood, merchandise based on fan favorite character, Lil Boo, celebrating “Every Day is Halloween” will debut in stores.

Final Thoughts

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights left me pleasantly surprised and was a TOTAL BANG! I believe that is in large part due to the unique houses that didn’t follow along mainstream movie titles. La Llorona: The Weeping Woman, Scarecrow: The Reaping, and Universal Horror Hotel had me walking through with anticipation in every step. The unexpected scares and scenes allowed for frightful delights. As I stated in many of my reviews, I will forever be a fan of Halloween and Michael Myers. Ultimately, leading to my appreciation to this house.

The real winner this year I have to say is The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare. The ambiance and eerie-ness equally carried throughout the duration of this walkthrough.  I enjoyed his maze so much I want to wrap this up with a quote.

“I always wanted my own Halloween Horror Nights haunted house as Halloween has always been significant to my music, so this is a total dream come to life. I feel like my music videos have served as a launching pad for a collaboration like this, and I cannot wait for people to experience this madness!” — Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye

Be sure to click here for addition information and ticketing prices. Trust me when I say that this is a year you don’t want to miss.